The couple was drinking vodka and lemonade together when they went into their basement so Michael Wanko could show his wife how to use his semiautomatic pistol.

“He took several of the weapons out -- handguns -- and was demonstrating to her how the weapon worked as far as taking the magazine out, making sure it was safe and how to pull the slide back,” Egan said.

When Michael reached into the safe to grab a gun, his wife picked up another gun and pulled and let go of its slide. The gun went off and hit Michael in the chest, NBC Philadelphia reports.

The couple’s two children, ages 2 and 5, were in the house at the time of the incident. Michele’s frantic screams woke up their eldest son.

When Egan told Michele that her husband died, she grabbed his clothing as she fell to the floor, taking the police chief down with her, he told the Delco Times.

Wanko has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and possessing an instrument of crime. She has since been released on $250,000 unsecured bail. Her children are staying with relatives.

Barry Burnell, a childhood friend of Wanko, said he’s shocked by the tragic accident.

“He was a gun enthusiast, but he was also a gun-safety nut. So I just don’t understand how this happened,” Burnell said.